Public Courts.

I don’t know about you, but I find them simply remarkable.
These interventions—fully part of the contemporary art landscape—combine creativity, design, and urban planning with clear objectives: activating public spaces, fostering inclusion, and strengthening community interaction.
They represent a form of cultural and social innovation with tangible impact, not just for athletes but for the broader urban environment.
One of the most compelling examples is Project Backboard, founded in 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee, by Dan Peterson. Initially focused on repainting game lines on public basketball courts, the initiative quickly evolved into a platform for large-scale, site-specific artworks that transform these courts into playable murals.
The organization, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the U.S., is dedicated to revitalizing public basketball courts by integrating high-impact visual art. The goal: to strengthen communities, enhance park safety, encourage multi-generational use, and inspire more creative, conscious engagement with public space.
Since its inception, Project Backboard has renovated over 100 courts across more than 25 U.S. states, as well as in Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Portugal. The initiative has helped generate over $4 million in investments for public park improvements through partnerships with municipalities, artists, and local stakeholders.